JCU > Research Portfolio > Dr Jorge Alvarez-Romero

About

I completed a BSc in Biology at the National University of Mexico (UNAM) with research on invasive species and did a Masters in management, conservation and international trade of wildlife at the International University of Andalusia (UNIA), Spain. My PhD in Systematic Conservation Planning (James Cook University) focused on the Gulf of California, and involved a review and further development of planning exercises undertaken in the region with an integrated land-sea planning perspective. Previous work experience includes conservation, management, trade and sustainable use of wildlife. I'm currently working at the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies as part of the Conservation Planning research group.

Teaching

EV3020: Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation (Level 3; TSV)
EV5020: Human Dimensions of Nature, Environment and Conservation (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Professional

I am interested in improving spatial planning for natural resource use to achieve long-term sustainability and positive outcomes for people and their environment. Broadly, my research aims to advance systematic conservation planning theory and practice through promoting and improving the integration of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine conservation planning initiatives.

Research

My research explores theoretical and methodological aspects of key decision-making problems associated with a land-sea approach, such as integrating cross-system threats (e.g. how land-based threats affect marine and coastal spatial prioritization), identifying co-benefits and trade-offs associated with management decisions (e.g. spatial congruence between local and downstream land values), and improving collaboration across interests and jurisdictional boundaries. My current research includes participatory scenario planning to inform integrated catchment management, studying collaboration networks supporting planning for land-water use and management, and designing reserve networks considering ecological connectivity and the effects of global warming.

Experience

2016 to 2019 - Research Fellow, ARC CoE Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University
2012 to 2016 - Postdoctoral Research Fellow, ARC CoE Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University
2011 to 2012 - Casual research & GIS, Marine Monitoring Program, TropWater, James Cook University
2008 to 2012 - PhD Candidate, ARC CoE Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University
2003 to 2008 - CITES Scientific Authority Coordinator, Mexico's National Biodiversity Commission

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2008 to 2012 - PhD scholarship, Mexico’s National Science and Technology Council
2011 - Virginia Chadwick Award, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies
2009 to 2011 - PhD scholarship, Mexico’s Ministry of Education
2005 - Masters Scholarship, Fundación Carolina, Spain

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Cockerell B, Pressey R, Grech A, Álvarez-Romero J, Ward T and Devillers R (2020) Representation does not necessarily reduce threats to biodiversity: Australia's Commonwealth marine protected area system, 2012–2018. Biological Conservation, 252, Article: 108813, DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2020.108813.
Adams V, Mills M, Weeks R, Segan D, Pressey R, Gurney G, Groves C, Davis F and Alvarez-Romero J (2019) Implementation strategies for systematic conservation planning. Ambio, 47, pp. 139-152, DOI:10.1007/s13280-018-1067-2.
Bellwood D, Pratchett M, Morrison T, Gurney G, Hughes T, Álvarez-Romero J, Day J, Grantham R, Grech A, Hoey A, Jones G, Pandolfi J, Tebbett S, Techera E, Weeks R and Cumming G (2019) Coral reef conservation in the Anthropocene: confronting spatial mismatches and prioritizing functions. Biological Conservation, 236, pp. 604-615, DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2019.05.056.
Adams V, Moon K, Álvarez-Romero J, Bodin Ö, Spencer M and Blackman D (2018) Using multiple methods to understand the nature of relationships in social networks. Society & Natural Resources, 31 (7), pp. 755-772, DOI:10.1080/08941920.2018.1425514.
Alvarez-Romero J, Mills M, Adams V, Gurney G, Pressey R, Weeks R, Ban N, Cheok J, Davis T, Day J, Hamel M, Leslie H, Magris R and Storlie C (2018) Research advances and gaps in marine planning: towards a global database in systematic conservation planning. Biological Conservation, 227, pp. 369-382, DOI:10.1016/j.biocon.2018.06.027.
Álvarez-Romero J, Munguía-Vega A, Beger M, Mancha-Cisneros M, Suárez-Castillo A, Gurney G, Pressey R, Gerber L, Morzaria-Luna H, Reyes-Bonilla H, Adams V, Kolb M, Graham E, Vanderwal J, Castillo-López A, Hinojosa-Arango G, Petatán-Ramírez D, Moreno-Baez M, Godínez-Reyes C and Torre J (2018) Designing connected marine reserves in the face of global warming. Global Change Biology, 24 (2), pp. e671-e691, DOI:10.1111/gcb.13989.
Adams V, Álvarez-Romero J, Capon S, Crowley G, Dale A, Kennard M, Douglas M and Pressey R (2017) Making time for space: the critical role of spatial planning in adapting natural resource management to climate change. Environmental Science & Policy, 74, pp. 57-67, DOI:10.1016/j.envsci.2017.05.003.
Hughes T, Kerry J, Álvarez-Noriega M, Alvarez-Romero J, Anderson K, Baird A, Babcock R, Beger M, Bellwood D, Berkelmans R, Bridge T, Butler I, Byrne M, Cantin N, Comeau S, Connolly S, Cumming G, Dalton S, Diaz-Pulido G, Eakin C, Figueira W, Gilmour J, Harrison H, Heron S, Hoey A, Hobbs J, Hoogenboom M, Kennedy E, Kuo C, Lough J, Lowe R, Liu G, McCulloch M, Malcolm H, McWilliam M, Pandolfi J, Pears R, Pratchett M, Schoepf V, Simpson T, Skirving W, Sommer B, Torda G, Wachenfeld D, Willis B and Wilson S (2017) Global warming and recurrent mass bleaching of corals. Nature, 543 (7645), pp. 373-377, DOI:10.1038/nature21707.
Adams V, Pressey R and Álvarez-Romero J (2016) Using optimal land-use scenarios to assess trade-offs between conservation, development, and social values. PLoS ONE, 11 (6), Article: e0158350, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0158350.
Arias A, Pressey R, Jones R, Alvarez-Romero J and Cinner J (2016) Optimizing enforcement and compliance in offshore marine protected areas: a case study from Cocos Island, Costa Rica. Oryx, 50 (1), pp. 18-26, DOI:10.1017/S0030605314000337.
Suárez-Castillo A, Torre J, Mancha-Cisneros M, Álvarez-Romero J and Espinosa-Romero M (2016) Ruta de sociabilización para integrar al sector productivo en el diseño de una red de zonas de recuperación pesquera en la Región de las Grandes Islas, Golfo de California. Ciencia Pesquera, 24 (2), pp. 65-79.
Álvarez-Romero J, Pressey R, Ban N and Brodie J (2015) Advancing land-sea conservation planning: integrating modelling of catchments, land-use change, and river plumes to prioritise catchment management and protection. PLoS ONE, 10 (12), Article: e0145574, pp. 1-26, DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0145574.

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 45+ research outputs authored by Dr Jorge Alvarez-Romero from 2006 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Department of the Environment and Energy - National Environmental Science Programme (NESP) - Northern Australia Environmental Resources Hub

Multi-objective planning in Northern Australia: co-benefits and trade-offs between environmental, economic, and cultural outcomes

Indicative Funding: $592,300 over 5 years (administered by Charles Darwin University)
Summary: This research will create a toolkit to guide planning and management that supports multiple uses of land and water, while maintaining environmental and cultural values. The toolkit will provide a roadmap to assess the potential impacts of current and future development on biodiversity and ecosystems and the influence of different approaches to management. Specifically, the project will examine the links between terrestrial, freshwater, and coastal marine species and communities. In addition, the toolkit will facilitate assessment of the benefits and costs of implementing different management interventions to mitigate threats to biodiversity associated with different land and water uses.
Investigators: Bob Pressey, Mark Kennard, David Pannell, Jorge Alvarez-Romero, Jeremy VanDerWal, Vanessa Adams, Erin Graham, Michael Douglas and Rosemary Hill (ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Griffith University, The University of Western Australia, Research Infrastructure, College of Science & Engineering and Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation)
Keywords: Northern Australia; integrated catchment planning; Kimberley region; trade-offs and co-benefits; Fitzroy River, Western Australia; Conservation Planning

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Completed

Avoiding and reversing "paper parks": integrating fishers' compliance into marine conservation efforts (2016, PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Data

These are the most recent metadata records associated with this researcher. To see a detailed description of all dataset records, visit the JCU Research Data Catalogue.

Alvarez-Romero, J. (2018) Global conservation planning database: marine proof-of-concept. James Cook University
Alvarez Romero, J. (2016) Integrated land-sea planning in the Gulf of California, Mexico. James Cook University
Alvarez Romero, J. (2016) Integrated land-sea conservation planning case studies. James Cook University
Alvarez Romero, J. (2016) Marine conservation planning in the Gulf of California, Mexico. James Cook University

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.